A researcher who has studied the environmental impact of Wittenoom's blue asbestos mine, in Western Australia's north-west, says the chances of people living in the town contracting an asbestos-related disease are not significant.

The Western Australian Government and the Asbestos Diseases Society have condemned people living in Wittenoom, in the state's north-west, saying they are luring tourists to the town who do not know about the dangers of contracting a fatal disease.

There are calls for the Western Australian Department of Industry and Resources to investigate how asbestos-laden machinery was delivered to a company in Port Hedland, in the state's north-west, without proper precautions being taken.